Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-12-21

his mother was in the West He felt all
about him the sweet influence of the woman
he loved, yet he had not the courage to ask
why she was not there. Mr.. Hastings final
ly explained that Mildred had gone to see
her friend, Barbara Curtis, and as it was
late, they would not sit up any longer but
would have worship at once. Worship
meant reading aloud the wonderful story
''Christ is Born,'' and in singing hymn.
Seth was a good tenor, and his voice blended
well with Mildred's, but he was too much
shaken up tonight to sing. So father and
mother Hastings quavered along in the old
fashioned tune that so well suits the mar
velous story:
"While shepherds watched their flocks by
night
All seated on the ground,
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around"
Seth listened as in dream It all re-
solved itself into one Mildred-Mil-
dred. Alas the worship in his cowardly
heart was for the creature, instead of the
creator, but then we know that God is love.
He made a final pretense of going home,
but Mr.. Hastings said, emphatically:
"Why man alive you're crazy You don't
stir out of this tonight
So he was installed in the sacred guest
chamber and being afraid to disturb the i'm
maculate squares Of lace and embroidery,
that protected the pillows, he rolled himself
in sumpter blanket and laid down ON the
divan-sofa
A half hour later Mildred and her friend
came home, and finding the latch-string out,
stole softly in and hurried upstairs. As
Mildred passed her mothers room she went
in and left a goodnight kiss. Mrs. Hast
ings was nearly asleep, but she whispered
-
that brought the color into the good, wom-
anly face
She laughed when she was in her room
with her friend and light.
Mother said something about the snare
room. / expect she has present there for
me. When child had to go there in the
dark and find it. always found a doll.
"You are too old for dolls now,'' answered
her friend, lightly, 'but whatever it is, you
can find it by your sense of feeling"
"Come then" said Mildred, and they
joined hands and stepped together over the
hall, and stood on the threshold of the
guest-chamber.
''Do you know it is the first time in my
memory that this room was unoccupied by
Christmas guest l remember how I
frightened Aunt Polly once by creeping in
to get my Christmas gift''
"May be her ghost is there now,n whis-
pered Barbara.
Mildred gave smothered shrek and
then the two stepped in giggling like school
girls
The undisturbed white bed doomed up in
the darkness.
christmas present, where are youa"
''Here-presentp' answered a choking
voice-a mans voice Enthusiastically
The screams that followed, brought
Father and Mother Hastings on the scene,
half-dressed but wholly awake, each carry
ing a weapon of defense. Mrs. Hastings
armed with the rolling pin, and Mr.. Hast
ings with the tongs.
There was very pretty tableau revealed
to them then. Seth Franklin bravely sup
porting the alf-fainting form of Mildred,
to whom Barbara was clinging shrieking
| hystercally
NJ thought sobbed Mildred she was a
! Christmas present"
NJ am, if you will only take me-" was it
Seth Franklin who spoke up in that clear
ringing voice.
/ "Welli well well;' laughed Father Hast
! ings, 'sif ever | see the like of that!"
SIT Is Christmas eve,n continued Seth In
that eloquent voice that had convinced
| jurles and influenced judges -"there is no
| holier or happier time to bring loving hearts
together than this. | was at Deaths door
| tonight and saw my wasted life in new
light. want Mildred''-he looked at her
humbly and deprecatingly-"d Mildred
want me?''
Her blushing, fearful face was more
eloquent than any words.
MRS. II. L. RAYNE.